The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-20
ON THE HALIFAX.
ORMOND AND HOLLY HILL VISITED
No trouble With Mosquitoes or ssndhies at Or
ect-The ST. Johns and HaIifas Railroad.
0f The PaIafhn Ners.

Correspondence Of the PdIdfka NeIus
ORMoND, FLA, May Is.
After a day of trudging about seeing
the sights of Daytona, was kindly of
fered seat in his buggy by Mr.. Carter
TO take me To Holly Hill where he lives.
After getting started. piled my friend
with questions of all sorts concerning
the town. the people, its groves, and all
about it. From him / learned that while
the people here have groves which are
located in the heavy hammocks back of
the town, they live in the town on the
river, which is far more pleasant and
considered more healthy.
A pleasant drive over some of the
good roads the enterprising people in
that section have cut out and grubbed
clear of all roots, so that you will not be
Jolted TO pieces as you drive along, and
ON through hammocks, soon brings us
again to the shores of the Halifax, and
shortly after we drive up 10 the house of
his mother, Mrs. III. a. Carter, in Holly
Hill.
Here l was again placed under obliga-
tion to my friend, by reason of courte-
sizes extended in the way of food and
shelter. 1t was about dark when we ar
rived. Soon supper was announced, and
You may be sure l was hungry. APP
preciated IT To NV hearts content. and |
hope to the satisfaction of my worthy
hostess. The evening was spent in pleas
ant converse, and as the hours were
creeping along it warned us to retire.
SWEET SLEEP, USDIsTURBED.
Before | went To the Halifax River, |
was told that would be eaten up by
and sandflies. Now here |
needed no netting, and my sleep was un-
disturbed by anything, and this, too, in
A dense hammock right on the river.
My room looked out over the river, and
,nly this river and a narrow strip of land
us from the ocean. As lay i'm
bed l could hear the beating of the surf
'n the beach, and its ever repeating dash
vas sweet music To my ears and soon
ulled me to sleep. The morning came,
After breakfast it was impossible TO re-
list the temptation to stroll about i'm the
hade of the trees and enjoy the cool
Freezes that are ever coming i'm from the
ea, freighted with its odor of salt. its
'racing and health giving properties.
There are many handsome and COM
ortable residences here, and attention
5 given to beautifying grounds rather
han making orange groves. though this
5 not lost sight of, as there are many
7aluable groves in the heavier ham
nocks in the rear of the town.
HOLLY HILL.
Holly Hill supports one store, kept by
Mr.. G. w. Harris. Here you can find
whatever you need for household pur-
'oses and Mr.. Harris is ever ready to
'erve you, give you good bargain and
axe in your pennies. ] wish to tender
hanks for courtesies shown.
Mr.. Carter is connected with the Hall
AK Journal, published at Daytona, and
ne has a well appointed job printing
'ffioe at Holly Hill. Mrs. Carert
,fficiates as f"stmistress.
On the peninsula across the river are
many beautiful residences and good
groves. A half mile further east you
,ome to the ocean, and the splendid
'each that so much delights the people
After finishing my bust
hess and sightseeing at Holly Hill, my
,ver present friend, Mr.. Carter hitched
noise to buggy and we were flying away
Dehind his sleek steed and making time
oward
oRMoND,
he phenomenal little town at the head
If the Halifax. l hope do not offend
he dignity of any of its goodly people
~ calling il town, as / know / draw
t very mildly when / name il a very
,retty place and a large sized town, if
lot a city. ! know it has broad, well
aid out streets, some of them with all
he roots grubbed out and some Of them
,aved. Nearly all the sidewalks are
,aved, and it is a real comfort to use
hem and walk i'm the shadow of the
we'll shaded pavements.
Who ever heard of tax being i'm
,osed for the purpose of clearing out
he roads and streets, and applying a
'um each year to keep them up and
'eautify them! A self-imposed tar !
mean. They do it here, and don't think
t any burden. If you should see Or
nond, you would think from the looks
IF the houses, the people and the gen
sral thrifty look of the place that it paid
hem. They actually have sign boards
up at the street corners, not mere daubs
on rough shingles, but neatly lettered
names of streets on nice white painted
and some of the streets are SO
nice they rise above the dignity Of streets
and put on the grandeur of avenues.
TWELVE YEARS AGO AND NOW.
The business interests of the town are
we'll represented in two large general es-
one of which boasts of
having the largest stock south of St.
but they both have large
stores and immense stocks. Asking one
IF the people where they s)ld 50 much
stuff, the reply was: To the folks out
here; the woods are full Of EN-" This
was not the case only short while ago,
for it was about the year 1875 when the
first settlement was made, and the sturdy
oaks began to bow their heads before the
strokes of woodman's AK. ! happened
tn be in the neighborhood about that
time, and a trail here and there was the
only way, save by the river, of getting
into the new colony, and when you got
there it was task to find anybody.
Now, how changed. The front street Of
Ormond Is perhaps a mule In length